(2 of 2)
Kennedy had got into trouble before over his remarks on Viet Nam—most notably last fall, when, defending the principle of dissent, he suggested that donating blood to the North Vietnamese or "anybody who needs it" would be "in the oldest tradition of this country." Recently he had carefully avoided identifying himself with the Senate's "peace Democrats." Now he found himself proclaimed as their leader, hailed by the rote liberals of the California Democratic Council and even editorially embraced by the Communist Worker, which for years had dismissed him as a fascist-capitalist-imperialist. "I don't want the support of the beards," he protested, too late.
No Disagreement. Interrupting a skiing weekend at Stowe, Vt., Kennedy began collaring groups of journalists in New York and Washington to explain his position. His only aim, he insisted, had been to clarify the "confusion" among Administration officials —to which White House Press Secretary Bill Moyers stiffly retorted: "I don't think it is the Administration that is confused."
In full retreat, Kennedy called for help from retired General Maxwell Taylor, an old friend after whom Bobby named his ninth child. Taylor obliged him, but only added to the confusion in the process. Though he is an architect and stalwart supporter of the Administration's policy, Taylor professed that Kennedy's position was "very, very close to what I consider my position."
It quickly got closer. Kennedy called Moyers to explain that all he was saying was that the U.S. should not "shut the door" on a Viet Cong role at a future conference or even in a future government, or else there might never be a conference. That issue, he now said, should be settled by negotiations, not before. Allowed Moyers: "If Senator Kennedy did not propose a coalition government with Communist participation before elections are held, there is no disagreement." At that point, finally, Bobby's reversal was complete. Said he: "I find no disagreement."